St. Joseph’s Vito Montelli honored with Morgan Wootten award from Hall of Fame

Former St. Joseph coach Vito Montelli has been honored with the 2013 Morgan Wootten award, the Naismith Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. announced today.

The award recognizes lifetime achievement in basketball. Montelli coached 50 years and won 11 state championships and 878 games, the most of any New England coach, before retiring last August.

He was honored alongside Sandra Meadows of Duncanville, Texas.

“Coach Montelli and Coach Meadows are both extraordinary coaches, mentors and teachers in life and the game of basketball. They have both done a tremendous job with their respective programs,” said John. L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame in a statement. “We want to honor them for their continued efforts in helping mold and shape the lives of their young players.”

Montelli will accept the award at the annual McDonald’s All-American game on April 2 in Chicago. The Hall of Fame says the award selected by a “national committee of Hall of Famers, national high school media, tournament members and others that have significantly impacted the game.”